Front Hitch: Yay or Nay?

moosehead1 · December 30, 2015

Anyone use a front hitch? Thinking this will be highly useful for tight boat and trailer parking. Seems simple and inexpensive.

Presume only downsides are front end aesthetics and perhaps slightly lesser ground clearance?

Any comments much appreciated.

crankman · December 30, 2015

Well I don't care for the look, to me a receiver belongs in the back of a truck. Im sure there useful for other folks and that's fine by me. I see you have a 6.2 that's a beast of a truck had one myself I would cringe to see one mounted in the front. Just my thoughts its your truck.

sahls01gmc · December 30, 2015

I'd just practice parking trailers more. Save your money, and keep the front end looking good!

moosehead1 · December 30, 2015

^I hear you on the hitch belonging on the rear bumper. Form and function are key even for us hillbillys.

Have also dinged a bunch of trailers over the years and get the practice comment. In this case, we have a skinny, elevated, curving driveway with slope. A shorter wheelbase SUV can get our trailer backed down if one hugs the interior side of the curve. A longer wheelbase truck puts the front wheels off the outside of the driveway curve when backing down. No room to nose in and turnabout with trailer and no pull through. Penalty for failure is rolling the truck or trailer down off the elevated driveway either swamping the rig or rolling it on the side.

Front hitches were made for this type of parking job as the angles are sharper to the turning front wheels and can thread a needle. Many guys with side loading garages or those stacking gear in tight use them.

So I either leave the boat up on the roadway, take an expensive hit to widen the driveway or build a pull through, or do the front hitch for $165 and get over the looks issue. The struggle is real.

sahls01gmc · December 30, 2015

Decisions, decisions. I see where you stand, my Uncle had the same scenario......and bought the front hitch. He has an ugly Ford Super Duty, so I wasn't worried about it ruining the looks of his truck!

moosehead1 · December 30, 2015

OK, that's a low blow. The Ford reference just axed the front hitch.

sahls01gmc · December 30, 2015

There's a member on here that just installed one....similar truck to yours I believe. If I find it, I'll post the link. I never did see the final picture when it was done.

smrr1 · December 30, 2015

Can you fab up a plate that you could be bolted/unbolted when needed?

chuckl1218 · December 30, 2015

I saw a member put on a front hitch to attach a removable winch...I'll see if I can find it...here it is...

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/178952-i-need-some-help-finding-the-right-front-receiver/?hl=front+hitch

moosehead1 · December 31, 2015

^Thanks for the link Chuck, looks interesting and versatile. Smrr1, fabbing something a bit more stealth would be interesting. Appreciate the ideas.

Found a few front hitches that are near flush to the underside of the bumper, they actually would need to either have the damn removed or have a notch cut in the center. A license plate adapter could disguise it enough to live with as fronts are required here in CO, not sure just yet.

Here is an Etrailer install vid for a '13 Sierra: https://www.etrailer.com/tv-install-trailer-hitch-2013-gmc-sierra-c31023.aspx

Hitch plate mount: http://recstuff.com/trailer-accessories/license-plate-holder/?gclid=CKTy1I_vhMoCFQ2OaQod1nEPZQ

Or maybe just hang a set of truck nutz to the frontside, veins out.